The rise of women and girls in AFL coaching is gaining momentum, and programs like Coach Your Way are leading the charge. Designed to empower new and inexperienced coaches, the Coach Your Way Rookie Program provides the knowledge, tools, and support needed to confidently step into a coaching role—without the pressure of fitting the mould of a ‘traditional coach.’
A key initiative in the AFL’s Women and Girls Game Development Action Plan, this program is actively increasing the number of female coaches, playing a crucial role in shaping the future of women’s football. The program starts with a practical workshop, where participants earn their AFL Foundation Coaching Accreditation and gain access to digital coaching resources. From there, coaches step into on-the-job learning, taking on co-coaching or assistant coaching roles at their local club, with mentor check-ins, professional development and networking opportunities available throughout the year.
Coach Your Way sessions will be hosted at several community clubs across Tasmania throughout the preseason period. These sessions are not restricted to members of the individual hosting clubs - we warmly welcome women and girls from all surrounding clubs to attend their nearest session. Please see below a current list of upcoming workshops:
📍 North Hobart – Tuesday 11th March, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Devonport – Wednesday 12th March, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Lauderdale – Wednesday 12th March, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Deloraine – Wednesday 19th March, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Claremont – Wednesday 26th March, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Wynyard – Wednesday 26th March, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
To view the live list of upcoming sessions across Tasmania and register for a workshop, click here.
Coach Developer Melissa Budgeon, who delivers the program in the North West region, highlights the importance of equipping first-time coaches with the confidence and skills to succeed.
"So many people hesitate to step into coaching because they think they need to have all the answers from day one. Coach Your Way is about breaking down that myth and giving new coaches the right tools, support, and confidence to find their own coaching style. Seeing the growth in participants throughout the program is incredible—it’s a game-changer for women and girls in AFL coaching."
One of those success stories is South Launceston U14 Girls coach Georgia Gillow, who completed the program last year.
"The biggest thing I took away from Coach Your Way was that coaching isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about learning, adapting, and supporting your players. The program gave me so much confidence, but the best part was the connections I made. I’ve met so many incredible coaches who are now part of my network, and that support has been invaluable."
AFL needs strong role models—both men and women—and programs like Coach Your Way are ensuring that the next generation of coaches are equipped, supported, and ready to make an impact.
Interested in hosting a Coach Your Way session at your club? AFL Tasmania is keen to bring the program to more regions. If your club would like to get involved, please reach out to:
📩 Sophie Wheeler – Women & Girls Lead sophie.wheeler@afl.com.au
📩 Will Tatchell – Coach Education & Development Lead will.tatchell@afl.com.au
This is your opportunity to step in and coach— your way.